Designing for Intervention Drilling—ROV

Abstract

Offshore drilling is a high-cost, high-risk operation. The high costs are the result of the combined expenses associated with offshore leases, drill rigs, support vessels, helicopters, logistics, technical support, and program management. The high economic risks arise primarily from the difficulty in accurately predicting the location of offshore hydrocarbon deposits. The success ratio is such that the costs to achieve a productive well must not only include the cost of the successful well but also the cumulative costs of the unsuccessful wells and the preparatory costs associated with both the successful and unsuccessful wells. All of these costs can be reduced down to one simple number — cost per linear foot of well drilled. Anything that can reasonably be done to reduce this figure is highly beneficial. This chapter addresses the cost savings which can be realized in a drilling program through the design and interface of an underwater intervention system for drilling support.